Tengah Airbase plane crash: RSAF temporarily suspends F-16 training, pilot 'conscious and stable'

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has temporarily suspended training for the F-16 aircraft fleet until investigations show that it is safe to resume.

This comes after an F-16 experienced an issue during take-off and crashed at Tengah Airbase on May 8 at 12.35pm.

The pilot, who successfully ejected, is conscious and stable, said RSAF in a Facebook post at 10.35pm

"He has undergone a full medical examination, which revealed no major injuries," added RSAF.

"The serviceman is an experienced pilot with over 2,000 flying hours on the F-16 aircraft. According to the pilot, he encountered flight control issues upon lifting off the runway at Tengah Air Base for a routine training flight."

Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen wrote about the pilot in a Facebook post earlier at 4.44pm: "His alertness and compliance to safety procedures to eject saved his life.

"No serious injuries were detected – he is ambulant, conscious, and talking. But as a precaution, will stay in hospital for observation.

"The last time we had a fighter jet crash incident was 20 years ago. It’s a credible record but obviously disappointed over this incident – the goal for the RSAF must still be zero crashes.

"Full investigations are underway to make sure all factors are identified and rectified decisively."

In a Facebook post at 2pm, RSAF said the pilot responded in accordance with emergency procedures when the aircraft experienced an issue during take-off.

The pilot successfully ejected and after the plane crashed, he was conscious and able to walk. No other personnel is hurt.

According to a Business Insider article, the cost of one F-16 aircraft is US$63 million (S$85 million).

This is the fourth loss of an RSAF F-16 since the type entered service in the late 1980s.

The last crash happened on May 19, 2004, when an RSAF F-16C crashed at Arizona in the US.

The pilot, 25-year-old Lieutenant Brandon Loo Kwang Han, was killed in the crash.